DEPUTY MINISTER YUSUF CASSIM INTERVENES OVER DELAYED NSFAS ALLOWANCES AT UNISA ​

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

DEPUTY MINISTER YUSUF CASSIM INTERVENES OVER DELAYED NSFAS ALLOWANCES AT UNISA

KASIBC_AUDIO

PRETORIA – The newly appointed Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Yusuf Cassim, MP, has launched a direct intervention into the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) payment delays affecting more than 93,000 distance-learning students at the University of South Africa (Unisa).  

​During a high-level oversight engagement at Unisa's Muckleneuk Campus, Cassim formally handed over a compilation of roughly 100 written complaints gathered via the Deputy Minister’s Helpdesk. The student grievances highlighted widespread frustration over delays in the July disbursement of the R316 Personal Care Allowance, alongside the highly contentious scaling back of vital mobile data allowances.  

​System Glitch Blamed for Payment Delays

​Deliberations between student leaders, Unisa management, and NSFAS representatives revealed that while NSFAS had successfully transferred the bulk funds to Unisa on 2 July 2026, the university suffered a severe internal system glitch. This technical failure temporarily bottlenecked the processing of individual student accounts.

​Unisa management confirmed the administrative error was completely resolved on Monday, 6 July 2026, and assured the Ministry that all outstanding student accounts are being actively cleared.

​Deputy Minister Cassim strongly criticized the administrative lapse, arguing that vulnerable distance learners should never be subjected to payment delays, particularly given the current harsh economic climate.

​"If we are being honest, R316 per month for a distance-learning student, which is less than the Social Relief Grant, is simply not enough given the resources students need to succeed academically," Cassim stated. "However, these are policy issues which can only be changed through the annual policy review change of NSFAS."

​Key Operational Takeaways and Action Items

​To prevent a repeat of the July payment bottleneck, the engagement concluded with a series of urgent structural directives:

​Review of Funding Schedules: Deputy Minister Cassim will formally write to the NSFAS Administrator, Professor Hlengani Mathebula, demanding a comprehensive review of disbursement timelines. Currently, NSFAS transfers funds nearly a week after the start of each month, leaving universities with dangerously thin windows to process individual payments.

​On-Site Financial Reconciliation: NSFAS has committed to deploying a specialized finance team directly to Unisa next week to systematically reconcile historical account discrepancies and iron out ongoing misalignment between the two institutions.

​Direct Student Engagement: Unisa management has pledged to facilitate a face-to-face town hall between Deputy Minister Cassim and the broader Unisa student body, providing an open forum for students to air their operational grievances first-hand.

​Addressing Potential Underpayments: Cassim raised alarming Helpdesk reports alleging that some students received amounts far below their designated R316 allowance. While Unisa denied the claims, they requested the specific case profiles from the Ministry to initiate immediate, individual investigations.

​Push for Long-Term Policy Reform

​The oversight visit has brought long-standing systemic issues regarding distance-learning models to the forefront. Deputy Minister Cassim noted that the upcoming annual NSFAS policy reviews and the looming overhaul of the NSFAS Act present critical opportunities to address severe funding inequities.

​Chief among these concerns is the fact that Unisa students registered for fewer than 10 modules are entirely excluded from receiving allowances, and that distance learners currently receive no institutional support beyond the R316 personal care allocation and a one-off textbook voucher.

​Furthermore, Cassim strongly urged the Unisa Council to urgently walk back its decision to scrap monthly student data packages, emphasizing that stable internet connectivity is an absolute prerequisite for distance education. 

While welcoming Unisa’s ongoing negotiations with private telecommunications companies for low-cost data partnerships, the Deputy Minister maintained that a firm, consistent monthly allocation must be guaranteed.

​Students experiencing ongoing bursary, registration, or allowance issues are encouraged to continue escalating their unresolved cases directly to the ministry via the dedicated email address: Dmsdesk@Dhet.gov.za.

WWW.KASIBC.BLOGSPOT.COM 

NEWS ~ AUDIO ~ VIDEO ~ SPORTS ~ EVENTS ~ TOURS ~ STORES

 

MMC COMMENDS JMPD TACTICAL RESPONSE UNIT AFTER GRUESOME DISCOVERY AND ARRESTS IN SOWETO

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

MMC COMMENDS JMPD TACTICAL RESPONSE UNIT AFTER GRUESOME DISCOVERY AND ARRESTS IN SOWETO

KASIBC_AUDIO

​SOWETO – The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Public Safety in the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Moshe Koma, has highly commended the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) Tactical Response Unit (TRU) for a swift operation that uncovered a hijacked government vehicle and led to a horrifying discovery of suspected human organs.  

​The dramatic breakthrough occurred on the evening of Thursday, 9 July 2026, culminating in the arrest of two male suspects at a residential property on Nape Street in Naledi, Soweto.  

​The Road to the Discovery

​The operation began when JMPD tactical officers conducting routine crime prevention patrols received an urgent tip-off regarding a vehicle allegedly being stripped for parts at a local residence.  

​Upon arriving at the specified address, tactical teams observed that the property's main gate was open. Moving further into the yard, officers noticed the front door of the house was partially open. After knocking loudly and receiving no response from within, the team entered the home under emergency protocols to investigate.  

​Inside, officers confronted a male suspect. Upon being questioned regarding the vehicle, the suspect admitted that the car they were looking for was parked inside the property's garage and claimed it belonged to the homeowner.  

​Hijacked Department of Health Vehicle Recovered

​A thorough inspection of the locked garage revealed a white Volkswagen Caddy.  

​Officers ran the vehicle's details through the police national verification system, which confirmed it belonged to the National Department of Health. The vehicle had been positively flagged as hijacked and was already in the advanced stages of being stripped down for illicit parts distribution.  

​Tactical teams then expanded their perimeter search around the property, leading to the apprehension of a second male suspect who was found hiding in the backyard.  

​Buckets of Human Organs Found

​While processing the crime scene and searching the rest of the yard, officers made a deeply disturbing discovery. They uncovered two buckets containing what authorities strongly believe to be harvested human organs. 

JMPD officials later identified the organic matter inside the buckets as human hearts and lungs.  

​MMC Moshe Koma described the gruesome finding as deeply shocking and praised the JMPD TRU members for their exceptional vigilance, professionalism, and decisive tactical response.

​Both suspects were immediately processed, arrested, and transported to the Naledi Police Station. 

They currently face serious criminal charges, including:  

​Unlawful possession of a hijacked motor vehicle.  

​Illegal and unauthorized possession of human tissue/organs.  

​SAPS and JMPD tracking units are continuing an intensive joint investigation to determine the exact origin of the human organs and to trace the whereabouts of the property's homeowner, who remains at large.  

WWW.KASIBC.BLOGSPOT.COM 

NEWS ~ AUDIO ~ VIDEO ~ SPORTS ~ EVENTS ~ TOURS ~ STORES

TREASURY FREEZES EQUITABLE SHARE TRANSFERS TO 69 NON-COMPLIANT MUNICIPALITIES

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

TREASURY FREEZES EQUITABLE SHARE TRANSFERS TO 69 NON-COMPLIANT MUNICIPALITIES

​KASIBC_AUDIO

PRETORIA – In an extraordinary intervention to curb widespread financial misconduct, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has announced National Treasury’s decision to temporarily withhold the July 2026 local government equitable share transfers from 69 municipalities across South Africa.  

​The drastic corrective measure, invoked under Section 216(2) of the Constitution and the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), affects major metropolitan areas—including the City of Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City, and Mangaung—as well as dozens of local and district municipalities across all nine provinces.  

​According to Minister Godongwana, the intervention is designed to enforce fiscal discipline, protect public funds, and compel failing local governments to align with statutory regulations.  

​A Multibillion-Rand Crisis in Local Governance

​

The intervention follows years of state-sponsored support, training, and legislative warnings that have failed to stem severe financial decline. Treasury’s data reveals staggering systemic deficits across the local government sector:  

​R145.21 billion in accumulated irregular expenditure, with R40.14 billion incurred during the 2024–25 financial year alone.  

​R24.12 billion lost to fruitless and wasteful expenditure since the 2021–22 cycle.  

​R118.13 billion in disclosed unauthorized expenditure.  

​Widespread Budget Failure: In 2024–25, nearly half of the country’s municipalities (116) adopted completely unfunded budgets.  

​Beyond internal audit failures, the 69 targeted municipalities collectively owe critical utilities and statutory bodies R27.4 billion. 

This includes outstanding interest debts of R3.40 billion to Eskom and R1.21 billion to various water boards, alongside widespread failures to hand over paydeductions for employee pensions, the South African Revenue Service (SARS), and the Auditor-General (AGSA).  

​"This fragility is not solely the result of external socio-economic pressures," Minister Godongwana emphasized. "A significant portion relates to the internal organization of municipal finance itself. Many councils continue to adopt unfunded budgets, fail to process unauthorized, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure (UIFWE) through their committees, and neglect consequence management."

  

​How the Funding Freeze Will Work

​National Treasury has clarified that this funding halt is a structured corrective action rather than a permanent sanction.  

​To safeguard critical national utilities and employee livelihoods, Treasury will bypass non-compliant municipal accounts, redirecting crucial cash injections in direct tranches to Eskom, municipal water boards, and statutory bodies to protect electricity, water networks, and worker pensions.  

​Affected municipalities were issued written warnings ahead of the freeze and provided an opportunity to present representations.  

​Strict Compliance Targets for Reinstatement

​

To unlock their frozen equitable share allocations, the 69 municipalities must meet stringent financial recovery benchmarks overseen by National Treasury and provincial counterparts:

​UIFWE Reduction: Municipalities must hit a 15% reduction in their irregular expenditure balances by August, and an additional 15% drop by September.

​Accountability Measures: Councils must supply evidence of functional disciplinary boards, active processing of historical financial misconduct through Municipal Public Accounts Committees (MPACs), and implemented consequence management.  

​Credible Planning: Municipal leadership must provide concrete proof of fully funded seasonal budgets and sign strict debt repayment schedules with third-party creditors.  

​"South Africans deserve municipalities that are financially sound, accountable, and capable of delivering services," Godongwana concluded. "By invoking the Constitution, we are signaling seriousness about governance, fiscal responsibility, and the rule of law."

​

Official List of Affected Municipalities

​Eastern Cape: Buffalo City, Nelson Mandela Bay, Makana, Sundays River Valley, Inxuba Yethemba, Port St Johns.  

​Free State: Mangaung, Letsemeng, Kopanong, Mohokare, Xhariep District, Masilonyana, Tokologo, Matjhabeng, Nala, Dihlabeng, Nketoana, Maluti-a-Phofung, Phumelela, Mantsopa, Ngwathe, Mafube.  

​

Gauteng: City of Johannesburg, Emfuleni, Lesedi, Sedibeng District, Merafong City, Rand West City.  

​

KwaZulu-Natal: iMpendle, uMzinyathi District, Newcastle, eMadlangeni, Amajuba District, AbaQulusi, uMkhanyakude District.  

​

Limpopo: Mopani District, Musina, Thabazimbi, Modimolle-Mookgopong, Fetakgomo Tubatse.  

​

Mpumalanga: Victor Khanye, Emakhazeni, Nkomazi.  

​

Northern Cape: Kamiesberg, Khâi-Ma, Ubuntu, Umsobomvu, Emthanjeni, Renosterberg, Thembelihle, Siyathemba, !Kai !Garib, Magareng, Phokwane.  

​

North West: Madibeng, Kgetlengrivier, Tswaing, Mafikeng, Ditsobotla, Ngaka Modiri Molema District, Naledi, Mamusa, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, City of Matlosana, Maquassi Hills, JB Marks.

​

Western Cape: Theewaterskloof, Laingsburg, Beaufort West.  

WWW.KASIBC.BLOGSPOT.COM 

NEWS ~ AUDIO ~ VIDEO ~ SPORTS ~ EVENTS ~ TOURS ~ STORES

OVER 400 OPERATING LICENSES RISK CANCELLATION DUE TO NON-COLLECTION, WARNS MEC DIALE-TLABELA

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR

OVER 400 OPERATING LICENSES RISK CANCELLATION DUE TO NON-COLLECTION, WARNS MEC DIALE-TLABELA

KASIBC_AUDIO

​JOHANNESBURG – The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has issued an urgent appeal to public transport operators to collect their long-awaited operating licenses or risk having them permanently cancelled.

​Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, revealed that more than 400 valid, approved operating licenses currently sit uncollected at department offices. The warning is specifically directed at minibus taxi and scholar transport operators who have already undergone the application process.

​Strict August Deadline Imposed

​The department has set a firm deadline of Friday, 14 August 2026, for operators to claim their documents. Applicants who have received notification via SMS or through their respective transport associations are urged to act immediately.

​Failure to collect the licenses within this stipulated timeframe will result in the immediate cancellation of the documents.

Affected operators will then be legally required to restart the entire application process from scratch, in accordance with provincial transport legislation.

​Clearing the Backlog

​The accumulation of uncollected licenses comes despite significant administrative progress by the provincial government. Since November 2025, the department has heavily prioritized streamlining its internal operations to eliminate a massive historic backlog and speed up turnaround times.

​This administrative push has yielded substantial results over the past several months:

​Over 2,000 valid operating licenses have been successfully handed over to compliant minibus taxi and scholar transport operators since November 2025.

​208 operating licenses were issued in a single day on Friday, 10 July 2026, during a targeted rollout at the Derek Masoek Regional Office in Johannesburg.

​Ensuring Legality and Safety on Gauteng Roads

​MEC Diale-Tlabela reiterated that operating licenses are a foundational pillar of a safe, well-regulated, and sustainable public transport network that protects everyday commuters.

​"We are calling on applicants, particularly minibus and scholar transport operators, to collect their operating licenses," said MEC Diale-Tlabela. "We encourage them to collect their operating licenses without delay, so they can continue to operate legally and contribute to safer roads across Gauteng."

​The ongoing collection drive forms part of the department's broader commitment to fostering regulatory compliance, eliminating illegal operations, and building a more efficient, transparent, and responsive public transport sector across the province.

WWW.KASIBC.BLOGSPOT.COM 

NEWS ~ AUDIO ~ VIDEO ~ SPORTS ~ EVENTS ~ TOURS ~ STORES

 

GAUTENG SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CALLS FOR INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT ON WORLD POPULATION DAY

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

GAUTENG SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CALLS FOR INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT ON WORLD POPULATION DAY

KASIBC_AUDIO

​JOHANNESBURG – The Gauteng Department of Social Development has joined the global community in commemorating World Population Day, emphasizing the urgent need for inclusive, responsive development as the province navigates rapid population growth and accelerating urbanization.

​Observed annually on 11 July, World Population Day raises global awareness about population trends and their direct impact on sustainable development, social well-being, and economic growth.

Navigating the Opportunities and Demands of Growth

​Department officials noted that population trends are inextricably linked to public access to education, healthcare, social protection, and employment opportunities. As South Africa's economic hub, Gauteng’s expanding population presents a complex dual reality of opportunities and systemic challenges.

​While a predominantly youthful population holds the potential to drive immense economic innovation and long-term growth, it simultaneously places an unprecedented demand on infrastructure, social services, skills development pipelines, and the job market.

​

To build resilient communities capable of adapting to these shifting demographics, the department is actively driving targeted social welfare investments. Current core frameworks focus on:

​Supporting early childhood and youth development initiatives

​Strengthening vulnerable family structures and promoting gender equality

​Combating systemic substance abuse across communities

​Empowering young people through targeted skills development, entrepreneurship pathways, and sustainable livelihoods

​Investing in People, Not Statistics

​Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, stated that the annual commemoration serves as a critical checkpoint to ensure that no resident is left behind in the province's developmental stride.

​"As Gauteng continues to grow, we must ensure that development keeps pace with the needs of our people," said MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.

"Population growth should not be viewed merely as a statistic, but as a call to strengthen our investment in people, particularly children, youth, women, older persons, and persons with disabilities."

​The MEC further highlighted that targeted social development programs are vital to safeguarding marginalized groups and creating an environment where every individual can thrive.

​A Unified Approach to Provincial Challenges

​

The department stressed that government interventions alone cannot absorb the pressures of rapid expansion. 

Addressing the complex social challenges tied to high population growth—such as deep-seated poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, inequality, and gender-based violence—requires robust, active partnerships across the private sector, civil society, government, and local communities.

​As the province marks World Population Day, the Gauteng Department of Social Development is calling on all residents to actively participate in localized initiatives that champion social cohesion, healthy lifestyles, and responsible citizenship to build a future-ready province.

WWW.KASIBC.BLOGSPOT.COM 

NEWS ~ AUDIO ~ VIDEO ~ SPORTS ~ EVENTS ~ TOURS ~ STORES